Area Manager Ground Operations

Air Arabia; Sharjah; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airline in the UAE is seeking an Area Manager for its Ground Operations. This role involves overseeing airport operations, strategic planning, and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree, over five years of experience in Ground Operations, and proficiency in stakeholder management and vendor coordination. This position requires effective leadership skills and the ability to travel across regions, aiming for operational excellence and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Ground Operations, with at least 2 years in a managerial role.
• Proven experience managing airport operations and compliance with international standards.
• Willingness to travel extensively across assigned regions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee airport operations to ensure safe and compliant ground handling.
• Develop, implement, and monitor regional strategies and business plans.
• Build and maintain relationships with airports and Civil Aviation Authorities.
• Conduct field visits, audits, and performance reviews for operational compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Vendor coordination

Operational management systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management or Business Administration

Master's degree (advantage)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Purpose

Area Manager- (UAE) Ground Operations:

Reporting to the respective Head of Ground Operations, the Area Manager leads and oversees airport operations across assigned regions to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant ground handling activities. The role supports the implementation of regional strategies and business plans in alignment with Air Arabia’s operational, financial, and customer service objectives. Through effective stakeholder management, data-driven performance monitoring, and cross-functional coordination, the Area Manager ensures operational consistency, revenue protection, and service excellence across all stations.

Key Result Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Execution

• Support the Head of Ground Operations in developing, implementing, and monitoring regional strategies and business plans, ensuring operational efficiency, cost control, and optimal ROI.
• Liaise with stakeholders to establish and implement airport services procedures aligned with Air Arabia’s quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Conduct feasibility studies and prepare operating budgets for assigned stations; monitor expenditures and recommend cost-saving initiatives.
• Partner with the Head of Ground Operations to lead the start-up and operational readiness of new hubs/stations, including contracting, manpower, facilities, systems, and training readiness.

Stakeholder & Contract Management

• Build and maintain productive relationships with airports, Civil Aviation Authorities, GHAs, and industry bodies to ensure smooth operations and favourable commercial terms.
• Support the negotiation and management of ground handling and customer service contracts, ensuring company interests are protected and service levels are consistently met.
• Collaborate with the Commercial team to align operational performance with revenue targets, cost optimization, and customer experience goals.

Performance Monitoring & Compliance

• Conduct field visits, audits, and performance reviews for assigned stations and GHAs; analyse data and reports to identify trends, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Work closely with Quality, Safety, and Security teams to ensure adherence to company and regulatory standards, including participation in audits and investigations.
• Coordinate with IT and government bodies to ensure all systems setup, upgrades, and maintenance comply with operational and regulatory requirements.

People Leadership & Development

• Partner with HR to define objectives and KPIs for station teams; provide coaching, feedback, and support to ensure consistent achievement of objectives.
• Ensure optimal utilization of available resources (manpower, systems, tools, and processes) to maximize operational efficiency.
• Continuously evaluate systems, tools, and procedures, recommending enhancements to improve reliability and productivity.

Qualifications (Academic, training, languages)

Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management, Business Administration, or related field; a Master’s degree is an advantage.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Ground Operations, with at least 2 years in a managerial role or multi-station leadership role.
• Proven experience managing airport operations, GHAs, and compliance with international standards (IATA, ICAO, GCAA).
• Commercial and cost-awareness mindset with ability to link operations to ROI.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and vendor coordination capabilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office and operational management systems. Exposure to data-driven decision-making is a strong advantage.
• High sense of accountability, customer focus, and operational discipline.
• Willingness to travel extensively across assigned regions.